Iota-carrageenan neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and inhibits viral replication in vitro

Morokutti-Kurz M, Fröba M, Graf P, Große M, Grassauer A, Auth J, Schubert U, Prieschl-Grassauer E (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

PLoS ONE Public Library of Science

Book Volume: 16

Article Number: e0237480

Journal Issue: 2 February

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237480

Abstract

In the absence of a vaccine and other effective prophylactic or therapeutic countermeasures the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a significant public health threat. Attachment and entry of coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 is mainly mediated by the spike glycoprotein. Here, we show that iota-carrageenan can inhibit the cell entry of the SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus in a dose dependent manner. SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus particles were efficiently neutralized with an IC50 value of 2.6 μg/ml iota-carrageenan. Experiments with patient isolated wild type SARS-CoV-2 virus showed an inhibition of replication in a similar range. In vitro data on iota-carrageenan against various Rhino- and endemic Coronaviruses showed similar IC50 values and translated readily into clinical effectiveness when a nasal spray containing iota-carrageenan demonstrated a reduction of severity and duration of symptoms of common cold caused by various respiratory viruses. Accordingly, our in vitro data on SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus and replication competent SARS-CoV-2 suggest that administration of iota-carrageenan may be an effective and safe prophylaxis or treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Authors with CRIS profile

Maximilian Große Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology Ulrich Schubert Professur für Virologie

Involved external institutions

Marinomed Biotech AG AT Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Morokutti-Kurz, M., Fröba, M., Graf, P., Große, M., Grassauer, A., Auth, J.,... Prieschl-Grassauer, E. (2021). Iota-carrageenan neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and inhibits viral replication in vitro. PLoS ONE, 16(2 February). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237480

MLA:

Morokutti-Kurz, Martina, et al. "Iota-carrageenan neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and inhibits viral replication in vitro." PLoS ONE 16.2 February (2021).

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